The Late Joseph Mayhew

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 30, 20 August 1885, Page 2

The Late Joseph Mayhew

No one who ever knew Joseph Mayhew but will regret bis untimely death which resulted from a fall from his he rse on the Awahuri road when riding home on Tuesday night. He was one of the earliest settlers on the Manchester block, and probably at the time of his death was the best known. He was untiringly industrious, and of a somewhat speculative turn of mind. His disposition was open-hearted, and liberal, so much so indeed tht he often secured a friend to the detriment of his own interest. It may be said of him that he was entirely unselfish. We understand he was a relation of the Mayhewf amily so well known in literature in connection with the lower life in London. He served for some years in H.M. navy in a humble capacity, and has seen a good deal of the world. • He was for somo time a member of the Manchester Kifl.es, and was at tho time of his death a financial member of the Foresters'. His life was insured for £250. He was twice married. His second marriage only took place about a year ago, and he leaves, a young widow with an infant but a few days old to mourn his death. General regret is expressed on all sides at poor Joe's untimely end, and much sympathy is felt with Mr Summers, who, by the death of his partner, has lost an able assistant and a dear friend. The funeral took place to-day, and was largely attended. A large number of the members of the local Court of Foresters was also present. The Rev. Joshua Jones officiated at the grave, and at the conclusion of his labois the usual Foresters' service was read, and the proceedings terminated.

THE INQUEST.

An inquest on the body of the deceased was held yesterday afternoon at the Endymion Hotel, Awahuri, by G. M. Snel3on, Esq., J.P., coronor for Manawatu.

The following gentlemen were on the jury : — Major Liddle, (foreman), Messrs Thomas Baxter, George K. Lucas, George Boness, Luke Ward, Arthur Dermer, Henry Bennett, John H. Towers, James Munro, Henry Stewart, Alexander and Thomas Eraser. After these had viewed the body the following evidence was taken : —

Henry McClenaghan, proprietor, of the Endymion Hotel deposed: Deceased came to his house about a quarter to nine on the evening of the 18th ; he was on his way from Bulls; did not see him enter the hotel, but saw him about five minutes afterwards ; he was not drunk ; he asked witness about some tickets in an Art Union he was getting up, and requested witness to get them off as soon as he could; he offered some tickets for sale in the bar, but did not sell any ; he asked a man named Titcombe if he would shout, and the latter stood drinks which witness served; that was all the drink he took in the house ; he went out and shortly afterwards got on his horse and rode away. In reply to Constable Meehan witness said the drinks he served were whiskey ; he was quite sure deceased was well able to take care of himself ; he got on his horse without any assistance.

Thomas Eose, groom at the hotel, deposed to seeing deceased come into the bar ; could not say he was quite sober when he entered ; he came in by himself, and shortly after commenced talking to Mr McClenaghan, and asked him for an order for something; did not see him have any refreshments ; went out and held the horse while he mounted; he asked witness if he remembered him, and he said he did well enough; deceased said " good night," and rode off at a trot ; about 10 o'clock Mr McClena* ghan called witness to put the horse in the dray and by directions went up the Feilding road to the place where a man was lying on the road, the body was lifted into the dray, and he brought it to the hotel.

By one of the jury : Deceased "was capable of taking care of himself when he went away. By the constable: Deceased mounted his horse without assistance.

James Neary, laborer, of Awahuri, said between 9 and 10 o'clock the previous evening he passed the hotel on his way home ; after going along the Feilding road for about a quarter of a mile, heard a man behind him travelling on horseback at a good rate; when he got close to witness he heard him talking, but could not hear what it was about ; when he passed witness he noticed he was rolling on his saddle as if drunk ; when witness got about 200 yards further on saw him lying by the side of the road; it was moonlight; the horse was about two chains ahead j witness was walking, and went up to deceased and listened to hear if he was breathing, and found he was not ; left the body and went to his brother's place close by for help ; witness's brother and a Maori came back to the place and turned deceased over ; witness put his hand to deceased's heart and said to his brother that the man was dead ; came on to the hotel and described deceased to Mr McClenaghan, asking if such a person had been there that evening; the latter said "yes, it is the lemonade man;" told Mr McClenaghan he had fallen off his horse and was dead ; asked Mr McClenaghan for a horse and rode to Feilding for the doctor and constable, and then rode back.

By the jury : Heard the deceased's horse turn off the road as if it shied ; deceased did not speak to him while passing ; felt sure it was the shying of the horse that threw deceased , there was a hole on the side of the road, where a horse had been buried; it had water in it, and this was where the body lay; the body was lying with the head doubled underneath right into the breast, the shoulders being on the ground; (witness here showed the position in which he found the body). Richard W. Morphy, livery stable keeper, Feilding, deposed to his knowledge of deceased as a yery indifferent rider ; he rode on this occasion a quiet

Trat rather awkward horse, a little inclined to shy. Daniel Johnston, surgeon, of Feilding, deposed as follows : — Held a post mortem examination on the body of deceased that afternoon ; could find no external marks of violence ; found the head considerably more mobile than is natural ; on opening the body found remains of an old standing disease of the right lung ; the liver was enlarged and adhered to the diaphragm ; both kidneys were diseased, particularly the left, which contained a large cist of watery fluid ; the heart was healthy ; on examining that portion of the spinal column between the head and shoulders, and after having removed the muscles from that portion of the spine, the head could be moved quite freely towards the left shoulder but not towards the right, as if the spinal vertebrae had formerly been injured; was called to see the body about halfpast ten on the night of the accident, Ml and after having a description of the position in which it was found, said it would be no use going as the man would be dead ; arrived at the hotel about eleven, and found the body still warm, with signs of rigidity setting in. By the jury : The cause of death was dislocation of the upper portion of ( the spinal column ; the death must ; have been instantaneous ; the stomach j comtained about an ounce and a half of dark fluid ; the mucous membrane of the stomach was congested. William Summers deposed to having been partner with deceased in the business of soda-water and cordial manufacturers at Feilding, and identified the body as that of Joseph James Mayhew ; deceased left Feilding for Bulls on business in connection with the firm on. Monday the 17th of August, and witness did not see him again until he saw his body at that hotel.

By the constable: Did not expect deceased back till Tuesday night ; he and witness had full confidence in the horse he was riding. This closed the evidence, and the jury without retiring, recorded a verdict to the following effect: — That the said Joseph James Mayhew was violently thrown from a horse while riding, by which he received a mortal injury to the spine ; that his death was instantaneous, and was caused by misfortune and accident, and not otherwise.